keeping watch
Eyes on alert
Keeping watch is staying alert to guard against danger or await something expected.
A sentry keeps watch over a camp.
Parents keep watch over a sick child.
The phrase implies sustained vigilance rather than casual observation: She kept watch while the others slept.
To keep watch for something is to look out for its arrival: Keep watch for the delivery truck.
- guardingActively protecting something
- guard dutySentry's assigned shift
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
- on the lookoutActively seeking or guarding
standing guard · monitoring · alertness · scrutiny · sentry · patrolling · watchdog · observation · detecting · oversight · witnessing · defending · sentinel · awareness · scanning · attentiveness · stay alert · on guard
- watching overguarding, protecting, monitoring, supervising, minding
- vigilscandlelight vigil, prayer vigil, night vigil, silent vigil, vigil candle
keeping watchsleeping
Unconscious rest state
dozing · napping · slumbering · nodding off · falling asleep
keeping watchdeserting
Abandoning one's obligations
dereliction of duty · forsaking · turning a blind eye · looking away · ignoring
keeping watchoblivious
Lacking any awareness
unaware · inattentive · distracted · heedless · unmindful
keep, keeping, keeps, kept, keeper, keepers, watch, watches, watched